FIVE
The sun was only just up, turning the ground on the eastward side of the mountain pink. Mikey had told me about a recent rockfall here. I could see the place where fresh earth had been exposed, but other trainers had been here already and I would have to search hard to find a Stone they had overlooked. Cinder ran about with his nose to the ground, hunting eagerly. Sometimes he started to dig a hole, only to give it up and run sniffing somewhere else. I was more methodical, and I was the one who spotted the ruby glow of a Fire Stone half-buried under a boulder.
"Cinder! Help me move this rock," The pup ran over and braced his side against the boulder, which was bigger than he was. I heaved too and the rock rolled over. I picked up the Stone and held it in cupped hands, admiring the inner fires. Cinder stared intently at it, the fiery crystal reflecting in his bright eyes.
"You sure you want to do this boy? There's no going back," Cinder wagged his tail so hard it became a blur.
"OK. Half a second," I put the Stone down and reached for my Growlithe, bundling him into my arms.
I sat him on my lap and squeezed so hard he gave a small squeak of protest. Then I kissed his nose and ruffled the quiff on top of his head. He in turn looked up into my eyes and gave my face a long, wet lick from chin to forehead. I picked up the Stone and held it out to him. He stepped forward, trembling, touched his nose to it.
I had wanted to watch the evolution process, but the white light which surrounded Cinder was so intense I had to cover my eyes with my arm. When I opened them I was confronted by the sight of an immense Arcanine who stood erect, snow-white mane rippling in the breeze, strong hind legs poised for a spring. His thick fur seemed to be on fire where the red morning sun caught it.
"You're beautiful!" I gasped. "Cinder? Cinder boy?"
"ARCANINE." thundered the fiery dog. The sound echoed back from the rocks - arcanine, canine, nine. He didn't even look at me. The great beast gathered himself and leaped up the mountain in graceful bounds, stood silhouetted at the top for a second, then vanished over the ridge.
"CINDER!" I called, only to have the anguished cry thrown back at me by the echoes. Otherwise, silence.
I searched the slopes, but he was gone, gone. I could find no trace of him, and anyway if he didn't want to be with me anymore there was nothing I could do about it. I had made him suffer by not wanting to evolve him, and now he didn't need me he had left. My thoughts got sadder and sadder, until I could do nothing but lie down and cry.
"Raichu?" A little nose nuzzled me as I lay face down, shaking with sobs. I rolled over and wiped my eyes with a grubby hand. "Hi, Bouncer. Where'd you spring from?"
I had my answer when Mikey appeared, closely followed by my Raticate and his Flareon. My Pokémon sat one each side of me, and I buried my hands in their soft fur, fiercely clutching tufts of it.
"We were worried - you've been gone hours. What happened?"
I didn't want the younger boy to see me crying, so I didn't answer - I was choking on sobs I couldn't release.
"Skip? Skip, what's wrong?" He put his hand over one of mine. His kindness was more than I could bear, and I let all my sorrow out in a high, childish wail: "He's gooooooooooooone!"
This over, I took a few hiccuping breaths and began to calm down. Soon I was telling them about it with only an occasional pause to sniff.
"Oh Skip, I'm sorry." Mikey said. "Chuuu," put in Bouncer, laying her chin on my knee.
"I'm such a bad trainer." I looked enviously at Mikey and his Flareon, so close they understood each other perfectly.
"You're not. You trained Cinder up to a high level. You cared enough about him to help him evolve. You came all this way. It's not your fault."
"Eee!" One of Flareon's babies suddenly leaped from its hiding-place in Mikey's jacket pocket. He jumped, startled. "You little stowaway!" he laughed. It scuttled over and flung itself into my lap with a huge bound. I couldn't help smiling. "Aren't you sweet?" I said to it, blinking hard so I wouldn't start crying again.
"In fact, Skip, you're such a good trainer I'd like to give you this Eevee," Mikey said. Now I really did start crying.
"Mikey..." I said.
"This one's a boy. What are you going to call him?"
"Mikey, no. I can't possibly. You're just doing it to make up for Cinder...and...nothing can."
"Vee?" The Eevee took my finger in his mouth and began sucking it.
"Don't be dumb. I'm doing it because Eevee likes you...and I like you," he said. "You love your Pokémon and you'd do anything to make them happy."
I stroked the baby's head. He was small enough to sit in my palm.
"What would you like to do?" Mikey asked after a few minutes.
"I don't know. Stay here for a bit."
"I'll stay with you."
"You'll miss the Evolution Party."
"So? No big deal. My brothers have been holding them all my life; it's got pretty boring now."
We sat wordlessly while the sun rose to the centre of the sky. In the noonday heat the Pokémon fell asleep, and I began to nod off in spite of myself. I dreamed of Cinder as a tiny puppy, the day he jumped on the table and stole the roast chicken we were about to eat. He had scampered off with it, my mom in hot pursuit, and run round and round the kitchen while I laughed so much I was almost sick.
The evening chill woke me. The sun was disappearing; only a sliver of deep red was visible over the black top of Evolution Mountain. Mikey was asleep, his Flareon snuggled against his side. Bouncer and Ricky had curled up together too. Eevee, wide awake, looked up at me. I sighed; I did love all my Pokémon, it was true, but Cinder had been my special one. No other could mean quite as much to me.
"We should go. It's getting cold," I told the baby Pokémon. Mikey shivered in his sleep, and I went to wake him.
"Come on, everybody. We've got to go," I said, heavy-hearted. Mikey stood up and stretched, and the Pokémon got sleepily to their feet. Our shadows were long on the ground as we turned to head back down the mountain.
"Vee!" The young Eevee struggled out of my arms and jumped to the ground. It stood staring at the mountain-top, ears pricked.
"Come on, baby. Home,"
"Ee! Eevee, eevee," it said obstinately.
"You go, Mikey, and take the Pokémon with you. I'll see what's up with the Eevee," I said. I didn't want the others to get chilled on my account. I scooped up my newest Pokémon and warmed him between my hands. "What is it, little one?" It flicked an ear when I spoke, then went back to its vigil.
We stood till the sun was out of sight. "It's getting real cold, Eevee. C'mon now,"
"Veeee." Its big ears were trembling, straining to catch some sound beyond my hearing.
"Ee! Eee!" It quivered and waggled its little brush. This time I heard it: a low rumble in the mountain, coming closer.
"That's thunder, silly. Now we'll get soaked," I said crossly, turning to follow the others.
"canine, nine..." I stopped dead.
"Cinder? Is that you?" I called, my pulse suddenly racing. Silence.
"Cinder?" I called again, peering into the gloom. Then a black shape came out of the dark and slammed into me with enormous force. I screamed and fell, but before I could hit the ground I found myself cushioned by soft fur. I felt hot breath on my face and a big nose prodding me gently.
"Arr, arr, arr, arr, arrrrrr," Cinder said in a vast, rumbling purr, rubbing against me like a giant cat. I could see his white tail now, wagging nineteen to the dozen.
"You came back!" I flung my arms round his neck in a bear hug. "Good boy Cinder! Good boy!"
"Arrrrrrrrrrr," Cinder nudged me with his nose. He looked the way he did when he stole the chicken - guilty for his naughtiness, but mightily pleased with himself. I guessed the thrill of being an Arcanine had taken him over for a few hours and he'd needed to let off steam.
"What do you want? You want me to ride on your back? Oh boy!" I grabbed a handful of fur and hauled myself up. Eevee settled between the Arcanine's ears.
"You be careful up there," I warned, but too late - we were off!
Cinder rushed down the mountain in great leaps and bounds. It was like a fairground ride - exhilarating, yet utterly terrifying. The wind whipped my hair and face, leaving me breathless. At the foot of the mountain we caught up with Mikey and the Pokémon, and stopped so suddenly I fell off in a giggling heap.
"Wow! You're so lucky, Skip!" Mikey said, eyeing the enormous creature. "You deserve it though."
"Arca, arr!" Cinder danced round us in a circle, eyes sparkling. He picked me up in his mighty jaws and swung me onto his back again, then did the same in turn with Mikey and the Pokémon. He marched down the main street of Stone Town and into the Evolution Center, where the party was in full swing. There were gasps from the trainers as the Arcanine stalked into their midst, and a crowd soon gathered to pet him. Mikey and I scrambled off. Mikey brought food and water for Cinder, and we left him with his new admirers. I discovered Ripple in a corner of the garden, babysitting the rest of Flareon's family. Bouncer found three newly-evolved Raichu to talk to. I helped myself from the buffet and got talking with a teenage girl who was stroking the mane of a beautiful Ninetales. Cinder was the star of the show, though, towering above even the Nidokings. He got plenty of fuss and attention, but his eyes seldom left me.
When the party was over Cinder helped clear up by chomping leftover food that had been spilled. The other Pokémon were slightly more helpful, carrying dirty plates and cups to the house. We stayed another night with Mikey, and the next morning I prepared to set off. Cinder and I were going home - but not before we thrashed the pants off Vermilion's gym leader and his tough little Raichu.
"What are you going to call your Eevee?" asked Mikey as Cinder gave him a goodbye lick.
"Mikey." I said immediately.
"Oh, I've got big rabbitty ears, have I? Thanks a bunch!" he said, pretending to be insulted.
"Thanks for everything. I'll come and visit you again - when my Eevee wants to evolve!" I promised, mounting Cinder. I patted his head and held on to his mane with both hands. Eevee rode on his head, the other Pokémon clung on behind me.
"Right, gang! Vermilion City ho! Look out, Lieutenant Surge!"